Legal Ethics in Context

Subject 730-455 (2008)

Note: This is an archived Handbook entry from 2008. Search for this in the current handbook Search for this in the current handbook

Credit Points: 12.500
Level: Undergraduate
Dates & Locations:

This subject has the following teaching availabilities in 2008:

Summer Term, - Taught on campus.
Pre-teaching Period Start not applicable
Teaching Period not applicable
Assessment Period End not applicable
Last date to Self-Enrol not applicable
Census Date not applicable
Last date to Withdraw without fail not applicable

To be taught intensively over the summer semester

Timetable can be viewed here. For information about these dates, click here.
Time Commitment: Contact Hours: To be taught Instensively
Total Time Commitment: 144 hours
Prerequisites: Legal Method and Reasoning; Principles of Public Law; Torts; Dispute Resolution; Obligations or in each case their equivalents.Note: For Graduate LLB students (three-year program) Torts will be a corequisite. The Obligations prerequsite will be waived.
Corequisites: None
Recommended Background Knowledge: None
Non Allowed Subjects: Legal Ethics
Core Participation Requirements:

For the purposes of considering request for Reasonable Adjustments under the Disability Standards for Education (Cwth 2005), and Student Support and Engagement Policy, academic requirements for this subject are articulated in the Subject Overview, Learning Outcomes, Assessment and Generic Skills sections of this entry.

It is University policy to take all reasonable steps to minimise the impact of disability upon academic study, and reasonable adjustments will be made to enhance a student's participation in the University's programs. Students who feel their disability may impact on meeting the requirements of this subject are encouraged to discuss this matter with a Faculty Student Adviser and Student Equity and Disability Support: http://services.unimelb.edu.au/disability

Coordinator

Prof A Smith & Ass Prof C Parker
Subject Overview:

Legal Ethics in Context provides a practical and critical introduction to ethics decision-making for lawyers in the context of a particular practice context. In Summer 2008 the focus will be legal ethics in the context of criminal legal practice in the US and Australia. It will be taught by Professor Abbe Smith, a well known legal ethicist and criminal defender from Georgetown University, Washington DC. Dr Linda Haller will teach Trusts Accounts

The subject will cover core material on legal ethics and professional conduct including (a) different moral approaches to legal ethics, focusing on the justifications for and criticisms of the traditional zealous advocacy approach; (b) the way that lawyers' ethics and conduct are regulated and (c) the principles of trust accounting. The core material will be contextualised by reference to criminal practice in both the US and Australia. Students will focus on the ethical and professional conduct issues raised by the criminal practice context, differences between the ethical context of criminal practice in the US and Australia, and the practical skills necessary for ethical practice in criminal law.

Legal Ethics in Context serves as an alternative to the usual legal ethics subject, Legal Ethics 730-454.
Assessment: Research Essay 4 000 words 100% due 11 February In addition, students will be required to complete a 1.5 hour open-book Trust Accounting Examination. This will be marked on a pass/fail basis.
Prescribed Texts: None
Breadth Options:

This subject is not available as a breadth subject.
Fees Information: Subject EFTSL, Level, Discipline & Census Date
Generic Skills:

On completion of the subject students should have developed in the following generic skills:

  • evaluation and synthesis of competing theories, rationales and ideas to resolve practical problems
  • openness to new ideas and critiques of received wisdom
  • an ability and self-confidence to comprehend complex concepts, to express them lucidly, whether orally or in writing, and to confront unfamiliar problems
  • capacity to engage in constructive professional and public discourse, to accept professional, social and civic responsibilities and to speak out against prejudice, injustice and the abuse of power
Notes:

Students who have completed 730-112, 730-410, 730-383 or 730-454 are not eligible to enrol in this subject.

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